The Shadowboxers

The Shadowboxers are an American pop-soul trio formed at Emory University in 2008, consisting of Scott Tyler, Adam Hoffman, and Matt Lipkins. Their sound identity is built on a foundation of three-part vocal harmonies, a trait that caught the attention of Justin Timberlake, who eventually signed them to his Villa 40 label and mentored their development.

This association solidified their transition from a folk-leaning indie act to a powerhouse of polished, funk-infused R&B. Their career arc is marked by a move from Atlanta's club scene to international tours, evolving from the organic instrumentation of their self-titled debut to the high-gloss, synth-accented soul of their later work. Critically, they are noted for their 'blue-eyed soul' sensibilities, often compared to Hall & Oates or the Bee Gees, but with a rhythmic complexity that aligns them with modern peers like Two Another or John Splithoff. They occupy a unique cultural space as a 'musician's band' that remains accessible to mainstream pop audiences, prized by collectors for their live-instrumentation-heavy production in an era of MIDI dominance.